This month Nawal Hamid, 45, an executive media secretary working in Abu Dhabi, won Dh1,000,000 through National Bonds, the UAE's Sharia-compliant savings scheme.
When I received the call to say that I had won a million dirhams, I cried. My whole body was shaking and I could not believe it. I phoned my two sons in Abu Dhabi first, then my friend and colleague who was away in Cairo. Everyone was happy for me. My son told me that this money is a reward for all the years I've been working hard. I look at it as a blessing and I'll use it to buy a home in America.
I have been putting money into National Bonds since 2006. You buy a bond for Dh10 but I normally buy Dh100 worth at a time. Every month all the bonds that you have go into a draw and you get interest on all the money you save. It was the very first bond that I bought that won me the top prize. I am the first millionaire in the family, but it won't change my life. My children have not asked for things but they want me to buy an expensive car. But I don't want luxury. I have a very cheap mobile phone; I don't want to pay for things I won't use.
Donald Trump is a millionaire and he's still working, and so am I. I have been working for 22 years. I started with Lebanese Television in 1986 and also worked for radio. In my job you have to be patient, credible and have common sense. I came to Abu Dhabi in 1980 when I was 18. It's my home and I like everything about it. I like the cosmopolitan nature of it. You gain a lot of life experience here, meeting a lot of people from different worlds. Living in Abu Dhabi enriches your life. You don't have to travel to experience the food, the traditions and the customs of other nationalities.
I'm Palestinian but I was born in Beirut. Most of my family are in America and two of my sons are studying there. I have a sister and a brother in Lebanon, two brothers in New York and a younger sister in Gaza. My oldest son is an information technology engineer in Dubai and my youngest is 15 and still at school. They both live with me. My sons are the most important people in my life. I get up at 4.30am for prayer almost every day. I do housework, prepare breakfast for my youngest and send him to school. I come to work at 9.00 and stay until 5.00 or 6.00. Then I go home and cook and clean the house. Sometimes I go out with my friends. I had a very happy childhood in Lebanon. When I was a little girl my parents spoiled me a lot. I loved school and we had a kind of freedom there. When I was a young I wanted to be a journalist. I wanted to defend the people and take their side and help people. I'm not a journalist but I work in the media which compensates for that.
On a perfect day I sleep for eight or nine hours. My idea of happiness is accepting things as they are and looking on the bright side. It's up to you to discover ways to enjoy things. I want to stay in good health and try to help others. I don't regret anything. Even if I came back I would just try to finish college. I respect any person who treats others with respect, regardless of where they come from or what their position is. Even if you talk to the office boy or the cleaner, you can get something from them which will help you in life. I'm not a romantic person. I'm realistic, but I'm passionate, too. I hate it when people want to take advantage of me.
I love politics and I like to read the economic pages. I like to know what's going on in the world. Knowledge is power and sometimes you can figure things out about the world by reading. It helps me in my life to know what is going on in the world.
I really want to go to the Maldives. When I'm there I would just like to meditate on nature. I want to be buried in Palestine. If not, Lebanon.
@email:rbehan@thenational.ae
